Today we’ll be looking at robotics Adafruit style with CRICKIT! Make a robot friend with Adafruit’s CRICKIT – A Creative Robotics & Interactive Construction Kit. It’s an add-on to our popular Circuit Playground Express, FEATHER and other platforms to make and program robots with CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino.
Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they’d know that making robots into slaves always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our friends!
So if you find yourself wanting a companion, consider the robot. They’re fun to program, and you can get creative with decorations.
With that in mind, we designed Crickit – That’s our Creative Robotics & Interactive Construction Kit. It’s an add-on to our popular Circuit Playground Express that lets you #MakeRobotFriend using CircuitPython, MakeCode (coming soon), or Arduino.
Learn all bout CRICKIT with Adafruit’s our learning system guide Introducing Adafruit CRICKIT
CRICKIT is all about movement — so learn how to Make It Move!
Project: Crickit Carnival Bumper Bot
A bumper car is usually driven by a crazed carnival-goer — but we’re going to build a self-driving Bumper Bot! This bot will use the Circuit Playground Express for brains and collision detection with its onboard accelerometer. The Crickit will provide all the muscle needed to drive two TT DC gearbox motors, as well as a micro servo direction indicator flag.
Circuit Playground Express is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We’ve taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to program.
Start your journey with Microsoft MakeCode block-based or Javascript programming. Then, you can use the same board to try CircuitPython, with the Python interpreter running right on the Express. As you progress, you can advance to using Arduino IDE, which has full support of all the hardware down to the low level, so you can make powerful projects.You can even use code.org CS Discoveries to learn all about coding right in your browser!
Project: CRICKIT Powered Minerva Owl Bot
Build your own Minerva Owl Bot, powered by Crickit! Program her in CircuitPython to talk, look around, and flap her wings!
It doesn’t take exotic materials to build your own audio-animatronic, just a few paper cups, craft supplies, a couple of servos, and a Circuit Playground Express with Crickit, battery pack, and a speaker!
This high-torque standard servo can rotate approximately 180 degrees (90 in each direction). You can use any servo code, hardware or library to control these servos. Good for beginners who want to make stuff move without building a motor controller with feedback & gear box. Comes with 3 horns, as shown. They aren’t the highest quality servo (which is why they are less expensive) and so are not suggested for hobby planes. We now carry the Tower-Pro SG-5010.
Build a CRICKIT powered rover robot using LEGO pieces and 3D printed mounts! Learn how to use the Circuit Playground Express and the LEGO brick system to build a two wheeled robot. Use Microsoft MakeCode to program movements with interactive lights and sounds. LEGO is the breadboard equivalent to mechanical design. It’s modularity makes it perfect for prototyping robotics. With just two motors, an Adafruit CRICKIT and Circuit Playground Express board, you can quickly make a moving robot. It’s expandable and completely customizable with 3D printing!
Perhaps you’ve been assembling a new robot friend, adding a computer for a brain and other fun personality touches. Now the time has come to let it leave the nest and fly on its own wings– err, wheels!
These durable (but affordable!) plastic gearbox motors (also known as ‘TT’ motors) are an easy, low-cost way to get your projects moving. This is a TT DC Gearbox Motor with a gear ratio of 1:48, and it comes with 2 x 200mm wires with breadboard-friendly 0.1″ male connectors. Perfect for plugging into a breadboard or terminal blocks.
See more Adafrut CRICKIT Projects!
We’re excited for the Holiday Season here at Adafruit and we can’t wait to share that excitement with you! Tune into the Adafruit Blog for 12 hand picked Adafruit Holiday Gift Guides featuring Adafruit products, projects and more starting Monday November 12.
Still not sure if you’re on the right gift giving track? Gift Certificates are the perfect cyber-present for the electronics geek in your life and are available at any time. When in doubt contact us!
Also be sure to check out the awesome freebies you get when you shop!
Adafruit Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2018
Here are your 2018 shipping deadlines for ordering from Adafruit. Please review our shipping section if you have specific questions on how and where we ship worldwide for this holiday season.
The Adafruit Shipping Department works hard to get your orders out as quickly as we can, but once they’re in the hands of our carriers they’re out of our control. Carriers have been struggling to keep up with the sharp rise in online orders. UPS, FedEX, and USPS all experienced delivery delays over the last few years.
So all the Adafruit Shippers say: Please be sure you get your gifts early! Order as soon as you can! Once you place your order we’ll ship like the wind!
Please note: We do not offer Saturday or Sunday service for DHL, UPS or USPS.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, Christmas, no DHL, UPS or USPS pickup or delivery service.
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, no DHL, UPS or USPS pickup or delivery service.
Domestic Orders
UPS Ground: Place orders by Friday 11 am ET – December 7, 2018 – Should arrive by Friday December 21 *There is no guarantee that UPS Ground packages will arrive by December 21, 2018.
UPS 3 Day: Place orders by Thursday 11 am ET – December 13, 2018 – Arrive by 12/21/2018.
UPS 2 Day: Place orders by Friday 11 am ET – December 14, 2018 – Arrive by 12/21/2018
UPS Next Day: Place orders by Monday 11 am ET – December 17, 2018 – Arrive by 12/21/2018.
USPS First Class and USPS Priority: Place orders by Friday– December 8, 2018 – Arrive by 12/21/2018 or sooner.
International Orders
USPS First Class Mail International: Place orders by Friday – November 16, 2018. Can take up to 30 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/21/2018 or sooner, but not a trackable service and cannot be guaranteed to arrive by 12/21/2018.
USPS Express Mail International: Place orders by Friday – November 30, 2018. Can take up to 15 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/21/2018 or sooner.
UPS WORLDWIDE EXPRESS, UPS WORLDWIDE EXPEDITED and UPS EXPRESS SAVER (UPS International orders): Place orders by Friday 11 am ET – December 7, 2018 – There is no guarantee that international packages will arrive by December 21, 2018.
DHL EXPRESS WORLDWIDE: Place orders by Friday 11 am ET – December 7, 2018 – There is no guarantee that international packages will arrive by December 21, 2018.